I can't eat in certain places

[onedaybabywellbeold]

So for as long as I can remember I can't eat in certain places. For example, a hotel room, or holiday villa, I feel physically sick eating in them or at the thought of eating in them as I just focus on the thought of how many people have been in and out it over the years and how they're probably not properly clean. I also can't take a bath and hate taking a shower in these places for the same reason.

Another example, whenever we have moved into a new house, it taken me a couple of weeks before I feel comfortable eating in it and not sick at the thought of other peoples germs. And in my recent home I didn't take a bath for the first two years until we had a brand new one fitted, and now I have used it a few times but am starting to feel repulsed by it because I think what is down the drain from people showering, when I say people, I mean my husband and daughter.

My husband just got a new car today - previously used - on way back from picking up car we went to McDonald's drive thru and my daughter and husband ate there's in the car and I just couldn't as I thought that germs must be lingering from previous owners. My husband thinks I'm very strange.

Can't eat on trains either but can eat at restaurants and friends houses no problem. Also swimming pools absolutely repulse me.

I'm actually not the tidiest person and am certainly not worried about germs most of the time, my house is not sitting sparkling. It's just when it comes to eating or washing in these certain places.

Is this really really weird? My husband thinks it's bizarre and I need to get a grip.

AIBU?

It sounds like a form of OCD.

What Sheleg said.

I also deem some people to have more germs that others, for example, I can have certain friends in my house and be fine but others I feel like my house is dirty from them being here and feel sick and like I need to wash where they have sat etc for no obvious reason.

I think you need professional help, not 'a grip' as your husband so charmingly put it.

Yes, it's weird but it may not just go away on its own.

Lady you need help.

I think you knwo it is not particularly standard behaviour. You should speak to someone about it. It may be OCD or it can be something from when you were young and it stuck with you. The latter happens to most of us with some things

You do need help.

It's not normal, and you are making your life so much more painful and complicated that it needs to be.

I think you need to get professional help.

This is not a normal or rational way of thinking about the risk of pathogens. Seek professional help.

I think you need professional support as this is clearly having a big impact on your day to day life.

It's weird though because it's not that I am worrying about getting ill, I can just feel the germs and so don't like to eat where I can feel other peoples germ. It would be like eating in the bathroom.

This is impacting upon your daily actions and is intrusive on your thoughts. You should seek professional support.

@WorraLiberty

I think you need professional help, not 'a grip' as your husband so charmingly put it.

Yes, it's weird but it may not just go away on its own.

My thoughts too.

@onedaybabywellbeold

It's weird though because it's not that I am worrying about getting ill, I can just feel the germs and so don't like to eat where I can feel other peoples germ. It would be like eating in the bathroom.

The point is that it's affecting your life in some quite extreme ways, regardless of whether or not you're worried about illness.

I honestly don't think it's just OP's life it's affecting.

It’s a form of ocd lovely. If you go to the gps they can send you for CBT.

@Wallywobbles

Lady you need help.

You definitely need professional help, this is not normal or rational behaviour.

It sounds like you are over-sensitive to feelings of disgust. Luckily, this kind of over-reaction/over-sensitivity/phobic-adjacent reaction is eminently treatable! Exposure works well, and other cognitive behavioural techniques. I listened to a really interesting few podcast episodes on this topics recently... transcripts below

www.npr.org/transcripts/597129490?t=1611862899547

freakonomics.com/podcast/disgust/

You cannot feel the germs. Something about the situation is triggering a phobia.

Sorry but no, I don't think thats as usual way of thinking at all.

I know what you mean about feeling like some people/places are dirtier than others. My friend has 2 cats and however clean her kitchen is, I can't get away from the thought that her cats may have walked up on her kitchen surfaces. She insists that they don't jump up, but I think it's impossible to know for sure and the thought of food being prepared on a surface that has had cat bum/cat feet on it makes me want to heave.

It's not really weird, because I think it is relatively common (I've heard of it a couple of times) but it's not logical. For example unless it's a wet warm environment, germs wont live outside the body for a couple of days, and things like baths or surfaces can be easily and thoroughly cleaned. I do think it might be a good idea to speak to someone

Yeah, really weird. Does it stem from anything, like a past experience of food poisoning or anything like that?

If it’s impacting your life (and it sounds like it is), something like CBT might help.

When you say you can 'feel' the germs, how do you feel them? Like they're crawling over your skin? A buzzing in your head? How does the feeling present?

This is so interesting because I think at times, and about certain things, we can all feel this way. For example, the thought of a dog licking my mouth makes my skin actually shudder. I also have quite a strong empathetic gag reflex and if anyone puts something in their mouth that shouldn't be there I will heave at the mere thought of it. Some one in a show once ate paper, it was so awful.

In some ways what you experience is a heightened awareness of bacteria. Do you have a particularly good sense of smell?

Do you realise you actually can't feel the germs though? Are you able to be rational about it? Either way you are definitely in need of some professional advice with your problem.